This essay continues a sequence. Read the previous one here.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
— Matt 5:9
Child of God: born or made?
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In the previous essay, we pointed out that there are three questions that need to be answered for us to understand this statement:
- What is a peacemaker, and why is peacemaking so central to being called a child of God?
- Who is doing the calling?
- Why is it said “called the children of God” and not “be the children of God” or “are the children of God”?
Let us now examine the second question: “They shall be called“…by whom?
How can ye believe,
which receive honour one of another,
and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
— John 5:44
But all their works they do for to be seen of men:
…
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts,
…
And to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
— Matt 23:5-7
True followers of Christ know that it is the honour that cometh from God that is of lasting value, not the honour of men. The calling that is definitely a blessing is the calling by the Almighty.
Therefore “They shall be called” must refer to a calling by the Almighty, not by men.
Now the third question re children of God.
Christ, The Word, is a Child of God in the definitive sense.
If only certain people shall be called children of God, then obviously human beings are not automatically called the children of God.
As an aside, this lends further credence to our conclusion in the previous essay, that to become a peacemaker is a goal for every human being.
We can’t be a thing and not be called the thing. If we are not automatically called children of God, it means we are not automatically children of God.
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The Word presents parental relationships in different ways:
The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
— Matt 13:24
I know that ye are Abraham’s seed;
but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
…
If ye were Abraham’s children,
ye would do the works of Abraham.
— John 8:37-39
The Word says that the evil men He was addressing are Abraham’s seed, but not Abraham’s children. They are “seeds” of Israel, but they have developed spiritually in a contrary direction.
So we must make a distinction between our “seed-hood”, which is a matter of origin, and our “child-hood”, which depends on our development i.e. our free will.
The human spirit starts out as a good seed sown by the Almighty, with the potential to achieve spiritual perfection.
Using his free will he develops from seed to child. In this process, he can develop according to Divine Will, or choose wrong paths.
No man knoweth who the Son is,
but the Father;
and who the Father is,
but the Son,
and he to whom the Son will reveal Him
— Luke 10:22
There is a gulf between man and the Almighty. This gulf is bridged by The Word.
The Word is the direct Child of the Almighty. He is a Part of the Almighty and did not develop from spiritual seed.
If we that develop from spiritual seed do so in the way dictated by The Word, we can be “recognized” by the Father. In other words, we can be adopted by God as His children.
When a child is adopted by an adult, he takes on the name of that adult; he is called by that name.
We are not “Children” of God like the Son, but we may yet claim the adoption by God and be named and called accordingly.
In conclusion: true spiritual maturity always expresses itself in beautiful and peaceful activity. Such human beings that have developed from seed to fully-developed spirit shall qualify for the adoption by God, and thus be called children of God.
Today’s Resolution:
- Through our thoughts, words, and actions we shall give thanks and praise to the Almighty for giving us the opportunity to be adopted by Him as His children.
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